Mrs. Bush's Remarks to the FEDPAC Luncheon
New York Marriott Marquis Hotel
New York, New York

12:23 P.M. EDT

MRS. BUSH: Thank you all very much. Thank you, Barbara and Jenna,
for that very sweet introduction. One of the great things for me about
having Barbara and Jenna on the campaign trail now with us is getting
to hear them talk about how much they love me -- and in public, no
less. (Laughter.)

Jenna and Barbara just graduated from college and now they're on
the speaking tour for their dad's campaign. (Applause.) They've found
great enthusiasm for the President all across America. And George and
I are so happy to be spending time with our girls on this, our last
campaign. (Applause.) And I can't think of a better place to have
some fun with my daughters than in New York City. (Applause.)

There are also some other members of the Bush family here today.
My mother-in-law, Barbara Bush. (Applause.) Also my brother-in-law
Neil and his wife Maria are here. (Applause.) I'm so happy that Mandy
Bush, George P.'s new bride, is here. (Applause.)

Our national convention is giving us the chance to have a family
reunion, so I want to thank all of the aunts who are here as well, and
the cousins who are here today to support me when I'm giving this
speech today, but more importantly support their cousin, George Bush.
Thank you all so much. (Applause.)

And also out of this crowd, I want to recognize Secretary Gale
Norton, Secretary Ann Veneman -- (applause) -- former EPA Administrator
Christie Todd Whitman -- (applause). Strong, Republican women, I might
add. And the members of Congress who are here, my friend from Texas,
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. (Applause.) Senator Olympia Snowe from
Maine. (Applause.) Senator Ernest Istook from Oklahoma. Thank you
all very much. (Applause.) Also, Governor Mike Johanns from Nebraska,
one of our very close friends, Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton of
Colorado, and former Governor Pete Wilson. (Applause.)

Today's luncheon is possible because of the leadership Diane
Thompson. (Applause.) Diane is a strong advocate for our Republican
candidates, as the Executive Director of FEDPAC. Thank you, Diane.
And thanks to each and every one of you today for your very, very warm
welcome. (Applause.)

This is an exciting time for our party and for our family. And I'm
so pleased to speak for women who are acting in politics throughout
America and who represent the great ideals of the Republican party.
Today, we'll build, and together we'll build on the success of the last
four years and spread opportunity to every corner of America by
reelecting President George W. Bush. (Applause.)

FEDPAC is helping to elect candidates who hold true to the values
that we share as Republican party members. And your efforts to help
Republican women who are running for office are especially valuable.
This month represents the 84th anniversary of the passage of the 19th
Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave women the right
to vote. (Applause.) Since then, women have gone from voting in
elections to voting in the halls of Congress. Today, 84 women are
members of Congress, including 14 United States senators. (Applause.)

FEDPAC supports the National Federation of Republican Women, which
has a long history of helping bring women into the political process
while promoting the Republican cause. When the NFRW was created, the
Republican message wasn't exactly catching fire. Franklin Roosevelt
had recently won the second of his four presidential victories. Just
six states had Republican governors. And of the 531 members of the
House and Senate, only 105 were Republican. We've really come a long
way as a party. (Applause.)

Today, the federal government is led by Republicans at both ends of
Pennsylvania Avenue. There are 28 Republican governors, including
Republican governors in the four largest states. And for the first
time since 1954, there are more Republican than Democrat state
legislators. (Applause.) We are the majority party in America --
(applause). And Republican success is due in no small parts to your
work educating voters, recruiting great candidates and getting people
to the polls.

President Bush and I appreciate everything you're doing for your
communities, to get out the word about his accomplishments and his
plans to move America forward. My husband knows how vitally important
empowered women are to a democracy, and he has three strong women at
home who won't let him forget it. (Applause.)

I'm proud that, in my husband's administration, there are more
women in senior positions than in any other administration in history.
(Applause.) Dr. Condoleezza Rice advises the President on foreign
policy -- (applause) -- and Margaret Spellings is in charge of domestic
issues. That means that in the White House, women are in charge of
everything abroad and everything at home. (Applause.)

And in fact, it's not just that way in the White House. Women make
nearly 70 percent of their families' financial and health care
decisions and more than half of all investment decisions. All issues
facing our nation are women's issues. (Applause.)

We have a lot at stake in this election. We want our economy to be
strong, for all women to have the opportunity to work and to chart
their own destinies. We want our children to be safe, and for them to
receive the best health care when they're sick. And we don't want to
be afraid that our doctor might close her office because trial lawyers
have made it too expensive -- (applause).

We want every child in every neighborhood to learn to read. And we
want women around the world to have the right to vote and have their
voices heard. (Applause.) These are the goals President Bush has
worked so hard to achieve in his first four years. And he knows what
he wants to do to make our country safer, stronger, and the future
better for all women in the next four years. How do I know? Because I
know George W. Bush. (Applause.)

George and I grew up in the same small town, Midland, Texas.
(Applause.) It's here that he learned the values of hard work, family
and integrity. His family lived just four blocks away from mine, but
we didn't meet until much later in life. Little did I know that I
would literally marry the boy next door. (Laughter.) And after 27
years of marriage, I can tell you that my husband still has the same
values and beliefs that he did when I met him. (Applause.)

As I've traveled in every corner of our country, I see how his
leadership and the decisions he has made are benefiting all Americans.
I'm especially inspired, although not surprised, by what women are
accomplishing.

Earlier this month, I visited several women-owned businesses and
spoke with women entrepreneurs. There was a towing company in Iowa, a
quilt shop in Wisconsin, a construction company in Ohio and a high-tech
aerospace firm in Colorado, all owned by women. (Applause.) These
companies are growing and thriving because the women who own them had
the courage to strive for success and the freedom to achieve their
goals.

Freedom has a special meaning for all of us, especially since the
attacks right here in New York and in Washington and in Pennsylvania on
September 11th. These terrible acts showed us the face of evil in the
world, but they also called us to the great work of protecting our
homeland and promoting freedom and democracy abroad. Since that
fateful day, President Bush has worked to America safer by confronting
terror threats around the world so that we don't have to fight them at
home. (Applause.)

I'm proud of my husband for recognizing the challenges that America
faces at home and abroad, and we're taking decisive action to meet
them. We are living in very historic times. And, thanks to the
President's leadership, these are also hopeful times for our nation.
We need your support to make sure America benefits from the President's
leadership for four more years. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

MRS. BUSH: All of you can contribute so much to our campaign by
getting out the word about the President's record of accomplishment.
Talk to your neighbors and friends and register them to vote. There
are nearly 23 million unregistered Republicans, and every single vote
counts.

Everything you do to reach voters and get them to the polls will be
a huge help for the President's campaign. Thank you very much for
working hard for President Bush and for all of our Republican
candidates. And thank you for your friendship. May God bless you and
may God bless America. (Applause.)